There was something of the processional about Sebastian Vettel's eighth straight win of the season here on Sunday, an almost weary wave-past borrowed from the archives of royal roisterings.

It was his 38th triumph, his 12th of the season, and it shattered the record of seven consecutive victories in one season previously held by Michael Schumacher and Alberto Ascari.

But any suggestion that ennui might be setting in Milton Keynes was quickly dismissed by the Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. "It never gets boring because you have to remember the days when we weren't winning," he said.

"We don't feel bad about doing a lot of winning. We're very proud of it. It's not down to us to help the others to succeed. The focus is very much on ourselves. There are teams with more resources and nicer factories and more machinery and manpower. But it's how you use it."

Horner also gave an insight into Vettel's motivation when he added: "He enjoys winning and competing. He's fixated on the DHL Fastest Lap trophy [awarded to the driver with the most fastest laps in the season]. He will be enormously pissed off if he doesn't achieve that trophy.

"He was pretty emotional at the end of the race because he'd beaten the record of one of his idols [Schumacher]. It seemed unlikely that kind of record would be beaten. To win eight consecutive races, to have won every race since July, is mind blowing, especially when you consider the quality of opposition we're up against it."

Certainly Vettel did not appear tired of the chequered flag. As he finished the race there was an explosion of pure joy. "I'm speechless," he said. "We have to remember these days. There's no guarantee they will last. I love this team. Incredible, I love you guys."

Vettel quickly expanded on the advantage given him by his 44th pole position and not even the introduction of the safety car following Adrian Sutil's early crash could disturb the serenity of his afternoon in the warm Texas sunshine.

There was also a commanding drive from Romain Grosjean in his Lotus. He finished second, following his third, third, third and fourth finishes in the previous four races, but his new team-mate Heikki Kovalainen suffered Kers problems and finished out of the points in 15th.

Mark Webber once again made a faltering start, though he finished third, his 40th podium. Webber, who started behind Vettel on the front row, was passed by Grosjean and Lewis Hamilton before he arrived at the first turn. It was the ninth time this season – and the fourth occasion in as many races – that he had lost positions at the start of a race.

There was also a strong drive from Valtteri Bottas, who had been in muscular form all weekend. His eighth place was Williams' best result since Abu Dhabi in 2012, more than a year ago.

Hamilton said afterwards that his fourth place felt like a win after his recent mysteries. But there were some testy moments on the track. When told to look after his tyres he said, almost Raikkonen-like: "That's what I'm doing man, let me focus." And when told to hold off a charge from Nico Hulkenberg (who was impressive once more)he said: "I'm trying to." Yet, later in the race, he appeared to contradict himself when he said: "You need to give me some feedback, man, tyres, temperatures."

When this curiosity was pointed out to the Mercedes team principal, Ross Brawn, he replied: "We're getting used to that now."

Meanwhile Sergio Pérez, dropped by McLaren for next season, finished seventh, the third time in as many races and the sixth time this season that he had finished ahead of Jenson Button, who tenth.

Afterwards, Button said it was not just the car that was uncompetitive. "This weekend I just didn't put it all together," he said. "I've got to sort myself out." That's something four-times world champion Vettel appears to have done rather well.

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